2014 prospect Paul Adams and his Christ Presbyterian (Tenn.) Academy teammates open the 2012 campaign next Friday night. Judging from his play in last week's scrimmage, the 6-foot-6 and 255-pound offensive tackle/defensive end expects good things this season.
Adams and company faced a bigger school in that scrimmage and he came away with confidence about his play at left tackle and on the defensive edge.
"It was a good scrimmage and we played Class 5A Hillsboro (Tenn.) and we are a Class 3A team," said Adams. "I thought it went pretty well and I did very good at left tackle and at weakside defensive end. It was good for all of us to get started like that and now we got to carry it over to our opener (next week)."
Since the end of his sophomore season, Adams shifted his attention to the weight room and adding more weight to his frame. So far, he's been able to see a different from a strength standpoint.
"On offense I am just working on getting the plays down pat and basically just working on everything," Adams said. "I think my play on defense is going well, too. I am a lot more physical this year and that's the case on both sides of the ball. My biggest improvement is being more physical and that goes back to being stronger this year."
Along with his own weekend duties on the field, Adams is also planning to venture out and see several SEC programs in action. He attended SEC camps at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss this summer and will make return trips to those campuses in the fall.
Holding an offer from Cincinnati already, Adams noted of the other schools showing him interest.
"I know I want to go see Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Clemson," said Adams. "Those schools are showing me good interest and I want to try to make all those trips."
Of that group, Adams said a pair of programs are currently sticking out to him.
"I would say Vanderbilt is recruiting me the hardest," said Adams. "They always want me to come and visit them as much as I can since I live in Nashville. Then I've talked with (MSU assistant) Coach (Angelo) Mirando since their camp. I check in with him and he always checks to see how I am doing and wants me there for their games this fall.
"And Mississippi State and Vanderbilt are the main two schools I like the most right now."
- Paul Jones
- Mississippi State Insider - Bulldawgs247